Lahore, Feb. 14: Two days after beleaguered Pakistani pacer Mohammad Asif said he would be challenging the ban imposed on him by the Indian Premier League (IPL), now the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to support the bowler asking the IPL to revise the time period of the one-year ban.

The PCB has requested IPL officials to revise the time-period of the ban so that it ends in July 2009.

The ban imposed by the IPL was already backdated to September 2008, when it suspended Asif on charges of taking a banned substance to enhance his performance on the field.

In a letter sent to the cash-rich league, the PCB has asked to further backdate the ban from July 2008, when Asif had tested positive.

"The ban runs till September 21 this year for the moment, but we have said in the letter that it should be back-dated to the date on which his result was announced," The Daily Times quoted a PCB spokesperson, as saying.

The IPL officials, however, said that the issue is now with the International Cricket Council (ICC), and any further decision will only be taken by the apex cricketing body.

"As far as the IPL is concerned his ban stays till September. Even the ICC has agreed to that. If he wants any review he will need to speak to the ICC," an IPL official said.

The PCB, right after the ban had supported Asif saying that he would be considered for the national team once the ban expires. Board Chairman Ijaz Butt had also shown his concern over the issue saying he would be offering Asif a central contract after the prohibition. (ANI)